Developments in the field of automation over the last several years gained huge momentum. An increasing number of human processes can be replaced by machines, which, however, would be useless if it were not for the control panels through which they can be controlled.
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The development of automation has raised technological advancement to an unprecedented level, and therefore it is logical to conclude that appropriate progress had to be made also in the field of control panels. In the case of more complex machines and robots, they must also be of a slightly higher level of sophistication. The world of control panels, however, is very spacious and can also be found on the occasion of slightly simpler devices.
In addition to purely industrial applications, where we are talking about a much larger scale, control panels also accompany us in everyday life. Looking around the house, we will surely find devices that have them.
What do such panels look like? What are they made of? Is their installation simple and - most importantly - how does it go?
We start with the basics
In order for an electrical device - and this is what our panel is - to work, it needs an appropriate power supply. In the case we took to the workshop, it would be 230 volts of alternating current. The operation must of course be properly prepared by securing not only the installation itself, but also the users. To achieve this goal, you will need to add to the panel circuit breaker, as well as residual current.
Complementing all these safety reasons, you can go directly to the already mounting adapter - 24 volts DC. - The question is, why 24 volts? First of all, it is a safe voltage - said Mariusz Lenar from the Techniczny Garaż channel cooperating with Automation Trader. - Secondly, it is also sufficient voltage to power various devices, such as solenoid valve coils or small motors - he added.
It's no secret that most machines and panels use 24V DC for their control signals. However, it must be remembered that during work we can meet other voltages and other currents,
Before you build - draw!
Move to panel installation must be preceded by adequate preparation not only place the necessary tools and components, but also drawing the appropriate diagram.
- Everything has to be right. What appears on the diagram will be reflected when installing the panel - continued Mariusz Lenar. - When drawing a diagram, you do not need to put a ground marking there. The diagram would become less clear, and yet is grounded in the principle of the whole panel, so there is no need - he said.
Drawing a diagram is an extremely arduous and demanding task. There may be situations when the person dealing with the installation is someone completely different from the one who created the diagram. Therefore, meticulousness and attention to detail on the first episode of "creation" is crucial.
What should the mentioned accuracy be about? In addition to the obvious question of how to fill in the required fields in the tables, as well as the use of proper names, should also pay attention to other things. One of them is adding as much information about the hardware as possible, although not everyone is required to do so. Adding the manufacturer's name or catalog number will surely be an added value to the project. The same will apply to macros of specific devices, such as inverters or controllers, the appearance of which outside the diagram can be extremely helpful, for example due to the search for the names of the appropriate connections.
Avoid chaos
When drawing a diagram, remember that it will be read by other people. What is obvious to us may not be so for others. So the solution is simple - keeping an appropriate order, so that also the person "from the outside" can see what is going on. So we do not cross the line, and if we see too much accumulation of elements on one side, we simply create a new one.
In the case of our control panel, it is not necessary, but if you are already talking about PLCs, it is also good practice to cooperate with a programmer who should describe specific inputs, outputs, etc.
It is also worth remembering the words of the old adage, according to which practice makes perfect. The more thoroughly we learn about the software we work with (and there are many of them on the market), the easier and faster we will use it, which will make the whole process much easier.
The diagram we present can be seen in the video below. Its drawing starts from 2 minutes and 7 seconds of the material, although of course we recommend watching it from the beginning.
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The author shows us joining specific elements. We learn where and why the appropriate bridges, terminals and outputs are created, so that we can then go to the physical elements and the assembly itself. We will describe the next stages of the installation in detail in the next text.
